Manually operable rotary switch with electromagnetic on-off action and return action upon failure of energizing circuit



May 22, 1962 v. H. ARDlA ETAL 3,036,174 MANUALLYOPERABLE ROTARY SWITCHWITH ELECTROMAGNETIC ON-OFF ACTION AND RETURN ACTION UPON FAILURE OFENERGIZING CIRCUIT Filed Aug. 31, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS IV/NCE/VT H. APO/A m KENNETH 0. REC/(EA/BE/L (u 1977'0QA/EY May 22, 1962A v. H. RDIA ETAL 3,036,174 MANUALLY ERABLE ROTARY SWI WITHELECTROMAGNETIC -OFF' ACTION AND RE N ACTION UPON FAILURE OF ENERGIZINGCIRCUIT Filed Aug. 31, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

FIG. 2

INVENTORS V/NCENT H. ARD/A KNNT H O. RECKENBE/L HZTOR/VEY May 22, 1962v. H. ARDIA ETAL 3,036,174 MANUALLY OPERABLE ROTARY SWITCH WITHELECTROMAGNETIC ON-OFF ACTION AND RETURN ACTION UPON FAILURE OFENERGIZING CIRCUIT Filed Aug. 31, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORSV/A/CE/VT H APO/A KENNETH O. REC/(ENBE/L 3 036 174 MANUALLY OPERABlLEROTARY SWITCH WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC (EN-OFF ACTION AND RETURN ACTION UPUNFAIL F ENER- GIZING CIRCUIT The present invention relates to a novelrotary switch, including means operable by a manual turn knob to selectvarious switching functions and more particularly to such a rotaryswitch including novel means to brake or hold the switch in respectivelyselected positions of the turn knob, together with biasing means toreturn the rotary switch and turn knob to a neutral position upon afailure or interruption of a supply of electrical energy.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel rotary switch in whichthere is provided means to effect an on-olf action which may bephysically sensed by the operator of the switch, together with means toreturn the switch to a neutral position upon failure of an energizingcircuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel rotary switchhaving a manually operable turn knob to select various switchingfunctions, together with a cam operated switch arrangement to provide apositive braking action at each selected position of the turn knobthrough energization of a solenoid and floating brake armaturecontrolled thereby at the precise position of the selected function.

Another object of the invention is to provide a manually operable switcharrangement for selecting a plurality of switching functions, togetherwith braking means to hold the switch at each selected position thereofincluding electromagnetic means to operate the brake means in such amanner that there is provided an on-off action which may be physicallysensed by the operator in actuating the turn knob to select theswitching functions and means to bias the switch to a neutral positionupon a failure or interruption in the supply of electrical energy forthe electromagnetic means.

These and other objects and features of the invention are pointed out inthe following description in terms of the embodiment thereof which isshown in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however,that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not adefinition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to theappended claims for this purpose.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the novel rotary switchshowing the mechanical arrangement of the several parts thereof and withthe manually operable turn knob in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 22 of FIGURE 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken along the lines 3-3 andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic showing of the mechanical arrangement of thedevice of FIGURE 1 and circuit diagram of the energizing circuit for theelectromagnet controlling the floating brake armature thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG- URE l andillustrating one of the switch function selecting mechanisms.

FIGURE 6 is a view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIGURE 1 andillustrating another switch function selecting mechanism.

Referring to the drawing of FIGURE 1, there is indicated by the numeral10 a main mounting base of the novel rotary switch having a centralportion 12 which may project from an end surface of the mounting base 10and through an opening in a mounting plate 14, together with fasteningscrews 15 for securing the rotary switch to the mounting plate 14. Abearing member 17 of a suitable, self lubricating material such asTeflon is positioned in the portion 12 and has mounted therein a mainactuating shaft 19 of the switch mechanism. The bearing member 17 islocked on the shaft 19 by suitable lock washers 21 and 23 engaging insuitable channels provided therein. The lock washers 21 and 23 arepositioned at opposite sides of the bearing member 17.

At the free end of the shaft 19 there is provided a manually operableturn knob 25 indicated in FIGURE 1 by dotted lines while the shaft 19further extends through an electromagnetic mechanism or solenoid 29secured within the main mounting base 10 by bracket elements 31 fastenedto the main mounting base by the bolts 33.

On-Ofi Braking Mechanism Cooperating with the electromagnetic element 29is a floating brake armature 35 having a collar 36 and slots 37 atopposite sides thereof into which slideably fit pins 39 projecting fromthe shaft 19 at opposite sides thereof so that upon energization of theelectromagnetic member 29 the floating brake armature 35 is drawninwardly toward electromagnetic element 29 and into engagement withbraking material 41 carried by the electromagnetic element 2% so thatthe armature 35 applies a braking force through the collar 36 and pins39 to the shaft 19 tending to retard rotary movement thereof under forceof the manually operable turn knob 25.

At the inner end of the shaft 19 there are rotary switch mechanisms 45and 47 of conventional type and including fixed stator members 49 and 51respectively within which are rotatably mounted rotary switch members 53and 55 afiixed to the shaft 19 by a suitable spline 57 so that rotationof the shaft 19 imparts a rotary movement to the members 53 and 55relative to the stator members 49 and 51 respectively for effecting aselective switching function.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the rotary switch member 53 has afiixed theretoswitching members 59 and 61 arranged to selectively cooperate withswitch strips indicated generally by the numerals 63 and 65 and carriedby the stator member 49. The switching members 59 and 61 are selectivelypositioned by rotary movement of the switch member 53 to open and closethe contact strips so as to perform selected switching functions. Asshown in FIGURE 1, suitable electrical conductors 66 lead from thecontact strips of the switch mechanism 45 to devices, not shown,electrically controlled thereby.

Similarly, as shown in FIGURE 6, the rotary switch member 55 includesswitch members 67 and 69 afiixed thereto and arranged to coperate withswitch contact strips indicated generally by the numerals 71, 73 and 75carried by the stator member 51. Thus by rotation of the member 55, theswitch members 67 and 69 may selectively open and close the respectiveswitch contact strips 71, 73 and 75 to perform selected switchingfunctions. As shown in FIGURE 1 suitable electrical conductors 76 leadfrom the contact strips of the switch mechanism 47 to devices, notshown, electrically controlled thereby.

The switch stator members 49 and 51 are fixedly mounted relative to themain mounting base 10 by suitable supporting posts 77 and 78 fastened byscrews 80 to a supporting plate 82 which is in turn fastened between themain mounting base 10 and an auxiliary mounting member 84 by bolts 86,as shown in FIGURE 1.

Thus, the stator members 49 and 51 are fixedly mounted relative to themain mounting base by posts 77 and 78, while the rotary switch members53 and 55 may be selectively adjusted relative to the stator members 49and 51 respectively by rotation of the shaft 19. Further, thearrangement is such that upon rotary movement of the turn knob andthereby the shaft 19 so as to position the rotary switch members 53 and55 to a predetermined selected position at which one or the other of thevarious selected switching functions are efiected, an energizing circuitof the electromagnet 29 is selectively closed so as to cause the brakearmature to apply a braking force to the shaft 19 tending to retardfurther rotary movement of the shaft by manual operation of the turnknob 25, while upon further movement of the knob 25 tending to overcomethis braking force the electromagnet 29 may be deenergized so as topermit free adjustment of the knob 25 to the next selected positionwhereupon reenergization of the el-ectromagnet 29 is effected.

As shown schematically in FIGURE 4, the aforenoted L selective operationof the electromagnet 29 is effected through the opening and closing of asuitable switch mechanism, such as a miniature switch indicated by thenumeral 919, for opening and closing a circuit 91 from a source ofelectrical energy 92 to the electromagnet 29. The switch 90 is fastenedto the supporting plate 82 by bolts 93 and the selective operation ofthe switch 90 is controlled by a cam '94 atfixed to the shaft 19 by asuitable fastening screw 96. The cam 94 has raised and recessed portions98 and 99 cooperating with a spring arm 1190 for actuating an operatingbutton 102 of the switch 90 so that, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, uponthe spring arm 100 resting in a recessed portion 99, the switch 90 maybe effectively closed causing energization of the electromagnet 29,while upon the spring arm 119i resting upon a raised portion 98 of thecam 94, the switch 90 may be effectively opened causing deenergizationof the electromagnet 29.

The raised and recessed portions 98 and 99 of the cam 94 are arranged soas to operatively control the spring arm 100 and thereby the switch 90in synchronized relation with the respective switch mechanisms 45 and 47so as to effect operation of the switch 90 to cause energization of theelectromagnet 29 upon the switch mechanisms 45 and 47 being in apredetermined selected position for closing one or the other of theseveral switch contact strips for effecting a switching function, whileupon switch mechanisms 45 and 47 being adjusted into a transientposition between one or the other of the selected switch positions, thespring arm 100 is adjusted by the raised portion 98 of the cam 94 so asto effectively deenergize the electromagnet 29. Such on-oif operation ofthe electromagnet 29 tends to hold the switch in the selected positionand provides an on-off action which may be physically sensed by theoperator of the rotary control knob 25, in that there is provided apositive braking action at each selected position of the turn knob 25through the energization of the electromagne-t 29 and operation of asshown in FIGURES 1 and 4, includes collars 112 and 114 rotatably mountedon a bearing member 116 projecting axially from the plate 82; The shaft19 projects through the member 116 and is rotatably supported therein bya bearing member 117. V 4, the collar 112 has projecting therefrom aflange-like arm 118, while the collar 114 has projecting therefrom asimilar flange-like arm 12%. Between'the arms 118 and 120 there ismounted a coil spring 122 having the opposite ends thereof 124 and 126affixed to the arms 118 and 129, respectively, so that the arms 118 and121! are biased in counterclockwise and clockwise directionsrespectively, as best shown in FIGURE 2, into contacting relation with astop pin 128 projecting from plate 82, as shown in FIGURE 1.

Further, selectively cooperating with the arms 118 and 126 is a pin 139projecting from an arm 132 afiixedly mounted on the shaft 19 by afastening screw 134. Further, secured to the free end of the bearingmember 116 is a limit plate 136 having, as shown in FIGURE 2, stopportions 138 and 140 for limiting at predetermined points rotarymovements of the arm 132 and pin 130 in either clockwise orcounterclockwise directions from the neutral position shown. 7 7

Further, such rotary movement of. the arm 132 and pin 130 in eitherdirection by operation of the turn knob 25 will be opposed by thebiasing force of the spring '122 acting upon the arm 118 or 120 as thecase may be and thereby on the pin 13cm the movement thereof to eifectthe selected positions of the switch mechanisms 45 and 47 as heretoforedescribed, so that upon the manually operable turn knob 25 beingadjustedto onetor the other of the selected positions from the neutralposition, the failure or interruption in the electrical energy suppliedto the elecromagnet 29 will cause the spring 122 to bias the pin 130 andarm 132 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, as the case maybe, to return the knob 25 and the selectively operated switch mechanisms45 and 47 to the predetermined neutral position, shown in FIGURE 2.

However, normal energization of the electromagnet 29 causes the floatbrake armature 35 to hold the shaft 19,

and thereby the turn knob 25 and rotary switch mechanism and 47 in anyone of the predetermined positions the floating brake armature 35controlled thereby at the I precise position of the selected switchingfunctions. The electrical conductors 66 and 76 from the rotary switchmechanisms 45 and Y47 may lead to a suitable electrical connector plug105 carried by the auxiliary mounting member 84. A cover 106 slips overthe connector plug 105 onto the auxiliary mounting member 84 and mainmounting member 10 in cooperation with sealing rings 107 and 1G8 thereonand is secured in position on the auxiliary mounting member 84 byfastening bolts 109.

F ail-Safe Feature for selecting one of the various switching functionsand against the biasing force of the spring until such time as thebraking force of the armature 35 and electro magnet 29 may be overriddenby manually actuating the turn knob 25 out of such selected position orthere is an interruption in the energizing circuit to the electromagnet29.

Operation tive to hold the knob 25 and operated switch mechanisms- 45and 47 in a selected position until overridden by manual force appliedto the knob 25' and the knob 25 returnedto a neutral position. Similarlya failure or interruption of the voltage to the solenoid orelectromagnet 29 will cause a spring 110 to return the turn knob 25 tothe neutral position.

Thus the switch mechanism provides a fail safe operation at all timesand a positive holding action at each switch function selecting positionfor the turn knob 25 through operation of the electromagnet 29 and brake35 at the precise position of a selected function so that there isprovided an on-oif action which may be physically sensed by the operatorof the turn knob 25, together with a fail safe feature effective at alltimes.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, various changes in the form and relative arrangements of theparts, which will Asbest shown in FIGURE now appear to those skilled inthe art may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.Reference, therefore, is to be had to the appended claims for adefinition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rotary electromagnetic switch mechanism, a main shaft, means forrotatably supporting the main shaft, means for rotatably positioningsaid shaft, switch means carried by the supporting means and operable atpredetermined angular positions of the shaft, an armature mounted onsaid shaft, electromagnetic means carried by the supporting means forreleasably holding the armature and thereby the shaft from rotarymovement relative to the supporting means, an electrical circuit forenergizing said electromagnetic means, another switch means toselectively open and close said circuit, control means operable byrotation of the shaft to actuate said other switch means to close saidcircuit for effecting energization of the electromagnetic means at saidselected angular positions and to open said circuit at angular positionsof the shaft other than said selected angular positions.

2. In a rotary electromagnetic switch mechanism, a main shaft, means forrotatably supporting the main shaft, means for rotatably positioningsaid shaft, switch means carried by the supporting means and operable atpredetermined angular positions of the shaft; spring means for rotatablybiasing the shaft to a predetermined neutral position, an armaturemounted on said shaft, electromagnetic means carried by the supportingmeans for releasably holding the armature and thereby the shaft fromrotary movement relative to the supporting means, an electrical circuitfor energizing said electromagnetic means, another switch means toselectively open and close said circuit, control means operable byrotation of the shaft to actuate said other switch means to close saidcircuit for effecting energization of the electromagnetic means at saidselected angular positions and to open said circuit at angular positionsof the shaft other than said selected angular positions.

3. In a rotary electromagnetic switch mechanism, a main shaft, means forrotatably supporting the main shaft, means for rotatably positioningsaid shaft, switch means carried by the supporting means and operable atpredetermined angular positions of the shaft, an arm projecting radiallyfrom the shaft, spring means acting on the arm in opposite directionsfor biasing the shaft to a predetermined neutral position relative tosaid switch means, an armature mounted on said shaft, electromagneticmeans carried by the supporting means for releasably holding thearmature and thereby the shaft from rotary movement relative to thesupporting means, an electrical circuit for energizing saidelectromagnetic means, another switch means to selectively open andclose said circuit, control means operable by arcuate movement of theshaft to actuate said other switch means to close said circuit foreffecting energization of the electromagnetic means at said selectedangular positions and to open said circuit at angular positions of saidshaft other than said selected angular positions.

4. In an electromagnetic switch, a rotary brake armature, a shaftdrivingly connected to said armature, manually operable means toselectively position said shaft, an electromagnetic winding to bias saidarmature so as to releasably hold said armature and thereby said shaftfrom rotary movement, main contact means movable by said shaft, mainfixed contact means selectively engageable by said movable contact meansat predetermined adjusted angular positions of said manually operablemeans, switch means for controlling energization of said electromagneticwinding, means actuated by arcuate movement of said shaft for causingsaid switch means to close an energizing circuit for saidelectromagnetic winding at each of said predetermined adjusted positionsof said manually operable means, and said actuated means being effectivefor causing said switch means to open the en- 6 ergizing circuit forsaid electromagnetic winding at other adjusted positions of saidmanually operable means.

5. In a switch mechanism, the combination comprising a main supportingmember, an auxiliary supporting member, a supporting plate mountedbetween said main and auxiliary supporting members, a control shaft, amanually operable control knob to rotatably adjust the control shaft, afirst bearing member carried by the main supporting member, a secondbearing member, a third bearing member projecting axially from thesupporting plate into the main supporting member and carrying thereinsaid second bearing member, said first and second bearing membersrotatably supporting the control shaft, main switch contact meanspositioned within said auxiliary supporting member, means for fixedlymounting the main switch contact means on the mounting plate, rotaryswitch contact means cooperating with said fixedly mounted main'switchcontact means, said rotary switch contact means being movable by saidcontrol shaft to selectively engage said main switch contact means atpredetermined adjusted positions of said manually operable control knob,an electromagnetic winding carried by the main supporting member, abrake armature operably connected to the shaft and positioned incooperative relation to the electromagnetic winding, an electricalswitch means aflixed to the mounting plate and operable to selectivelyopen and close an electrical circuit for energizing said electromagneticwinding, a rotatable cam affixed to the control shaft, a spring arm tocontrol the switch means, said spring arm arranged in cooperativerelation with said cam so as to cause the switch means to close thecircuit for said electromagnetic winding at said predetermined adjustedpositions of the manually operable control knob and to cause the switchmeans to open the energizing circuit for said electromagnetic winding atother adjusted positions of said manually operable control knob, a mainarm aflixed to the control shaft and projecting radially therefrom, apair of auxiliary arms rotatably mounted on the third bearing member andpositioned at opposite sides of said main arm, a coil spring positionedabout said shaft and third bearing member, one end of said coil springbeing attached to an end portion of one of said auxiliary arms and theother end of said coil spring being attached to an end portion of theother of said auxiliary arms so as to bias said end portions of theauxiliary arms in opposing relation, a fixed stop pin projecting fromsaid supporting plate into cooperative relation with said opposing endportions of the auxiliary arms so as to limit movement of the endportions of said auxiliary arms under the biasing force of said springto a predetermined neutral position, an actuating pin projecting fromsaid main arm into cooperative relation with said opposing end portionsof the auxiliary arms, said auxiliary arms being arranged so as toselectively contact said actuating pin so that said coil spring mayeffectively bias the main arm and thereby said shaft to a positioncor-responding to said neutral position upon an interruption in theenergization of said electromagnetic winding.

6. In a multipositional control means, a main shaft, means for rotatablysupporting the main shaft, main control means operable at predeterminedangular positions of the shaft, brake means for holding said shaft in anadjusted position, means for operating said brake means, other controlmeans operable by arcuate movement of said shaft for actuating saidoperating means to render said brake means effective at saidpredetermined angular positions of the shaft and ineffective at otherangular adjusted positions of the shaft.

7. In an electromagnetic switch, a rotary brake armature, a shaftdrivingly connected to said armature, manually operable means toselectively position said shaft, an electromagnetic winding to bias saidarmature so as to releasably hold said armature and thereby said shaftfrom rotary movement, main contact means movable by said shaft, mainfixed contact means selectively engageable' for controlling energizationof:saidelectromagnetic wind- .ing, means actuated by said shaft forcausing said switch means to, close an energizing circuit for'said$IQCTIOIHZig? netic winding at each of said predetermined adjustedpositions, of said manually operable means, said; actuated means beingeffective for causing said switch means to open the energizing circuitfor said'electromag etic.Wind ingat other adjusted positions of saidmanually operable means, a main arm projecting radially from the shaft,a pair-of auxiliary arms. movably mounted relative to said main, arm, acoil spring positioned about said shaft, one end of said coil springbeing attachedtto an end oftone of said auxiliary arms and the other endof said coil spring being attached to an end of the other of saidauxiliary arms so as to biasvsaid ends of the auxiliary arms one towardthe other, a;fixedrstopmeans to limit movement of; the ends ofsaid'auxiliary arms under the bias.- ing force of said spring to apredetermined neutral position, an actuating pin projecting from saidmain arm andpjositioned between said auxiliary arms, said auxiliary armsbeingarranged so as to selectively contact said actuating .pin, so thatsaidcoil spring may effectively bias themain arm and thereby said shaftto a position corresponding to said neutral position upon aninterruption in the. energization of said electromagnetic Winding.

References Cited in the-file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENT S

